Collecting can be fun and so No matter what hobby you have , you offcourse will have the drive and passion for it and you may have already been collecting for years be it , Stamps , Frogs , or even autographs !! So the question is,! What do you want to achieve ? Set yourself a goal and aim for it !! Time is very important a you need to be effective in how you do it and so plan How long will this take. Budget, Set yourself a monthly target and so DO YOUR RESEARCH ! Some of the best advise you can gain will be from existing collectors and so go out and meet people with similar interests , so a Premiere for a autograoph collecor , photographer , presenter etc is invaluable as long as you ask the right questions. Everyone started from the beginning and many people you meet will still be amateurs and some will be able to point you in the right direction USE FORUMS including this sites message board to share advise , tips and ask questions. Most importanly HAVE FUN and keep going at it , be it Rain , snow or sunshine !!!

Writing to your Fav person

Keep your fan letters short - never longer than a page. Mention something about the individual's career that you have enjoyed, like favorite films for a hobby you share. With movie Stars, you might want to say that he/she is your favorite actor ! It appeals to their ego and there is nothing wrong with having several (hundred) favorite stars. >> Don't ever tell a Celebrity that you are an "Autograph Collector". Many stars actually despise this because they feel their photo is just going to go into an album along with a pile of other people. In addition, celebrities are now realizing that there is a huge market for Autographed Photos and they know that many autograph collectors will actually sell items they receive from celebrities. For this reason, don't mention that you collect autographs >> In your letter, specifically ask for a "authentic personally autographed photo". Sign your letter in a fashion similar to the way you want your photo inscribed ( ex. Love or Your Friend) >> ALWAYS include a 9x12 S.A.S.E. (self addressed stamped envelope) with postage. It will fold neatly into thirds and then fit perfectly into a regular size #10 envelope with postage on it.

I have found that peel and stick 9x12 envelopes work best. >> Write "Personal" on the outside of your envelope in red ink. It Works! I know I always open mail first that is marked "Personal". >> Write "Address Correction and Forward" on the outside of your envelope. If a celebrity has moved, your letter will be forwarded to their new addresses and you will be notified of their new address by a postcard. This will save you the trouble of re-addressing and re-mailing your fan letter to their new address. >> Don't pester a star repeatedly. If you especially like a certain individual, wait at least 3 or 4 months before writing for another autographed photo >> Don't get overly personal in your letters to stars and be careful what you say. In some cases a secretary may "screen" letters and with all the screwballs running around loose nowadays, many stars actually keep a "nut letter file" devoted to those head-cases who send fan letters that are considered a little strange. If something happens to the star,

1. Be very Polite, Smile, 2. Introduce yourself but understand there time might be tight 3. Have some questions already planned,Tell them if you have seen there film. got there album etc, have pen , camera handy ready 4. Be patient- you may wait hours to meet them, once they have gone in a studio-they generally won't come out to sign -even if you ask 5. Thank them for there time in signing/talking to you

Where to collect 1. Start of at your local theatre where many stars will be all year round, especially Panto ! 2. Book a show and take the family, wait for the star after the show then join the family again at the bar 3.Travel to a big city where there are tv studios !itv and the bbc have studios all around the uk, Big stars will be around all day 4.Local football training grounds another good place to start especially if your a fan of the team 5. The rest is up to you, film set entrances, premiers, signings ( see local tv/ radio)use the internet and plan well to save on time hanging around, speak to people and share experiences

If you have more than one address for a particular celebrity and you can afford the stamps, send a letter to each address. One of them will probably come back marked "undeliverable". But, wouldn't it be nice if the autographed photo you're looking for is in the envelope under it! Be aware, you may get an SP or ISP from each address, but at least you will get your autograph! (This has happened to me several times) Some celebrities view mailing out autographs as a "thankless job". If you receive an autographed photo or index card, show them you appreciate their time by sending out a "thank you" post card. It is a small price to pay to keep those celebrities signing autographs for future collectors!

  Dear Leona Lewis, I have been a big fan of yours for years, and have enjoyed your many magazine shoots. My favorite work you do is your animal support. I was wondering if you would mind sending me your autograph. I have enclosed a SASE for your convenience. I hope to hear from you soon, and deeply appreciate your generosity in fulfilling this request. Thank you. Sincerely, [Your Signature] [Your Address]

photography Tips

Sample fan letter

Whether you're a novice or a pro with your camera phone, we've got some tips that will help you take better pictures. Camera phones don't capture enough detail to make high-quality prints, but they're great for spontaneous pictures and sharing through e-mail or the Internet. So grab your camera phone and start experimenting. Take lots of pictures Move in close Shoot at eye level Watch the light Use a plain background Try different angles Set resolution to high Discover your camera phone's capabilities Be courteous Don't forget your regular camera Store and share pictures

When meeting celebs in person, like i do all the time,This is the best way to get a autograph as you know the celeb signed it and not someone else! DO your research!! always know abit of info on their early stage of their careers

so you come across as a true fan and not suddenly taken a liking to them as they are currently the bees knees,( i got the autographs of Keira Knightly in 2003 from her agent, now she has so many requests few are signed and sent back) Research gives you have something to talk about and always give praise as everyone wants to be praised Stars are more likely to sign for you as a fan if you come across as being friendly and polite so never start on first name terms, its always mr...(evans) or ms..(jolie), do not ask for more than two autographs as they might be reluctant to sign after the first one or will ask " who do i sign it too" as only dealers ask for loads and typically only ask for their autograph too, stars are happy to sign but not repeatdly. Always thank them for their time too, it goes a long way if you want their autograph in the future Meeting celebs can be fun, but not all are as nice in person as they are on screen ,

so make sure you have a good time meeting them and if they are your idols, then proper planning of your questions is a priority as you may never cross paths again! Most females will not let you kiss them, the big A listers often are wary of people getting too close to them and hire big burly guards- so keep your distance , Please dont follow the stars or they will get angry (Liam Gallagher,patsy kensit, Also ask to take photos, if they decline i usually take a sneaky photo anyway ! Have fun

There are many ways to get access to celebs, you can try looking at the website which relate to the person you wanna meet Look in papers or mags which show gigs,plays,book signings etc view the event page on www.markmeets.com or view my updates page which has my top 10 best locations

WHERE TO MEET A STAR ?

1.Check out any trendy restaurants in London. Celebrities like to get in on the latest craze. 2.Award shows are a great place to meet celebrities. And tickets are usually available at your local ticketing agency. 3.The hottest new clubs, both in London or liverpool, are known to cater to celebrities. 4.If you're looking for TV celebrities, wait outside the television studio and wait for them to come out. 5.Join a fan club. Many fan clubs host luncheons with the stars. 6.Attend a charity event hosted by a celebrity. 7.Enter contests that give away lunches, dates, dances and tours with celebrities. Enter as many as possible. 8.Find out where your favorite star shops and shop till you drop. 9.Some celebrities attend mall openings or perform in comedy clubs, etc. in your hometown. Keep checking your local newspaper.

10.If a celebrity is coming to your hometown, find out what hotel she/he is staying in. 11.Most stars now have their own web sites. This would be a great place to find out where and when their next appearance is. 12.Get tickets to a talk show in which celebrities regularly appear.

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